Trithor
Chico (..... the clown)
I am unsure where Angela wanted me to post this,
(Abax's) Air Layer plus parent plant
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SlipperFan
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Explanation???
The plant on the right is the "parent plant" that was in very bad shape when
I got it and tried the air layering. The one on the left is the result of the
air layering...cutie, isn't it. The parent plant sent out new growth after
the rooted air layered section was cut off. That the air layering worked
surprised me. The new growth on the parent plant surprised me even more!
Thank you, Gary, for letting me show off just a little bit. I appreciate it enormously.
I got it and tried the air layering. The one on the left is the result of the
air layering...cutie, isn't it. The parent plant sent out new growth after
the rooted air layered section was cut off. That the air layering worked
surprised me. The new growth on the parent plant surprised me even more!
Thank you, Gary, for letting me show off just a little bit. I appreciate it enormously.
How did you do it?
Trithor
Chico (..... the clown)
Only a pleasure Angela. I am also waiting for the series of pictures that we can all learn from you!
Stupid me...I didn't take any photos because I didn't think it would work.
The parent plant was in terrible shape too. All I did was cut a slit in the
stem, stick a toothpick through the slit, wrapped the slit, toothpick and
stem in sphagnum and wrapped the whole shebang with Saran Wrap. I
kept the sphagnum wet with rain water and just waited to see if it worked. I think it took about three months to develop three inch roots.
I detached the baby plant and stuck it in sphag. as you see it. I'm trying
to decide whether to pot it up in Orchiata now or wait a bit. I see very
good roots through the side of the pot.
I've grafted trees before and some other types of plants, but never tried
it on orchids. It's a great way to get a two for one and eventually get very nice plants without leaf damage.
The parent plant was in terrible shape too. All I did was cut a slit in the
stem, stick a toothpick through the slit, wrapped the slit, toothpick and
stem in sphagnum and wrapped the whole shebang with Saran Wrap. I
kept the sphagnum wet with rain water and just waited to see if it worked. I think it took about three months to develop three inch roots.
I detached the baby plant and stuck it in sphag. as you see it. I'm trying
to decide whether to pot it up in Orchiata now or wait a bit. I see very
good roots through the side of the pot.
I've grafted trees before and some other types of plants, but never tried
it on orchids. It's a great way to get a two for one and eventually get very nice plants without leaf damage.
gnathaniel
Lurker
Nice propagation work, Angela! When you say you stuck a toothpick through the slit, do you mean just the width of the toothpick held the slit open? Or was it a short length of toothpick put lengthwise? Or something else entirely, am I correctly understanding the purpose of the toothpick? Feel like I'm having trouble visualizing it...
PaphMadMan
phytomanic
So the stem was elongated enough to accomplish this, or did you air-layer a node of the spike?
That's the way to do it! 
Yes, just the width of the toothpick kept the slit open...very small slit. I used the whole toothpick stuck horizontally through the slit. The purpose
of the toothpick is to keep the small slit open. Your visualization is probably
far more complicated than actual procedure. The toothpick sticking out of
the slit on both sides helped hold the sphag. in place while I wrapped the
Saran Wrap around it and put twist ties at both ends of the sphag. to hold it in place. The whole thing took about five minutes and the hardest
part was the damn Saran Wrap sticking to itself and everything it touched.
Oh yeah, Paphmadman, the mother plant had a very long stem with a
very small growth on the end. If there was a node, I didn't see it and
I didn't use any rooting compound either. The poor mistreated plant
just wanted to live. Oh, I started this in mid-spring when I thought it
was time to start putting out new roots...or just luck.
Eric, if you were me, would you leave the air layered plant in sphag. a bit longer or
transfer it to the potting medium I intend to use...Orchiata mixed with a bit of sphag.?
of the toothpick is to keep the small slit open. Your visualization is probably
far more complicated than actual procedure. The toothpick sticking out of
the slit on both sides helped hold the sphag. in place while I wrapped the
Saran Wrap around it and put twist ties at both ends of the sphag. to hold it in place. The whole thing took about five minutes and the hardest
part was the damn Saran Wrap sticking to itself and everything it touched.
Oh yeah, Paphmadman, the mother plant had a very long stem with a
very small growth on the end. If there was a node, I didn't see it and
I didn't use any rooting compound either. The poor mistreated plant
just wanted to live. Oh, I started this in mid-spring when I thought it
was time to start putting out new roots...or just luck.
Eric, if you were me, would you leave the air layered plant in sphag. a bit longer or
transfer it to the potting medium I intend to use...Orchiata mixed with a bit of sphag.?
With 3" roots it should be good to start. I would put some large sponge-rock in the mix for airflow and to prevent rot.
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